The first Iron Dog event started in 1984, in Big Lake following the Northern Route of the Historic Iditarod Trail to Nome. The event began as the Iron Dog Iditarod, but the name was quickly changed the next year to the Gold Rush Classic, in 1990 the race was recognized as the Iron Dog Gold Rush Classic for a decade until Tesoro Corporation became a title sponsor, thus recognizing the event as the Tesoro Iron Dog. Today, we simply refer to the race and ourselves as The Iron Dog. The event is sponsored by the Alaska National Guard which has allowed the Iron Dog to grow significantly since 2009.

Todays Iron Dog course distance is over 2,000 miles, starting in Big Lake with a halfway stop in Nome and finishing in Fairbanks, making it the Worlds longest snowmobile race. Participants cover some of Alaskas the most remote and rugged terrain while confronting some the harshest winter conditions. Survival skills are essential, making it the Worlds toughest snowmobile race. All teams in race classes are a team of two persons and two snowmobiles for safety.

The Iron Dog offers a non-competitive recreational class giving adventure seekers an opportunity to travel 1100 miles on the Northern Route of Historic Iditarod Trail to Nome. These teams of two or more travel the same race trail as the Pro Class Teams.

Iron Dog, Inc. brings a World Class Event across the State of Alaska each February impacting over twenty five Alaskan communities beginning with the Iron Dog Safety EXPO in Wasilla, AK. This EXPO provides a unique winter recreational trade show that brings in industry vendors, promotes snowmobile safety and education through seminars, and a face to face opportunity for the fans and media to meet with notable Iron Dog athletes.

Race Event Start includes fundraising activities, vendor booths and a patriotic celebration start. Nome marks the half way point for the racers and a finish for the trail class. The Nome Halfway Banquet brings the race participants and fans together with celebration awards, tales from the trail, slide show presentations, and prizes. Pro Class participants race into Fairbanks chasing one of the many contingency awards based on the fastest team between two check points crossing the finish line. Teams are held in the City of Tanana before Fairbanks in order to have the teams cross the Finish line in a two hour window for spectator viewing. A finishing reception celebration is held the evening of the Finish. The Awards presentation is held at Pikes Waterfront Lodge in Fairbanks.

Race participation typically averages (30) thirty Pro Class teams with an average of (20) twenty or more Trail Class riders for a total number of about 80-90 riders on the trail each year.

Iron Dog is a proud leader in the snowmobile sports community promoting snowmobile safety and outdoor education through trade shows, seminars and community events.

Lived in Alaska for 51 years. Married to Regina. Has owned Davis Block and Concrete for 35 years. Raised two great kids Cory and Carly. Enjoys touring on motorcycles, riding the powder, spending time at his cabin, watching his kids compete.

Todd is a lifelong Alaskan married to Sarah with 5 children - Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper and Trig. Two grandchildren also graced the Palins - Tripp and Kyla Grace. Todd, who with his family, is a self-employed Bristol Bay commercial fisherman. Todd is a former North Slope Production Operator in Prudhoe Bay. Todd enjoys everything Alaska.

5
posted on 02/17/2013 8:36:46 AM PST
by KC_Lion
(Build the America you want to live in at your address, and keep looking up.-Sarah Palin)

I have always wanted to vist Alaska, I have a cousin who recently met a douche ba...I mean her Fiance and moved to Wasilla, I told her to say hi to Sarah for me. (though I don't think they have ever met)

8
posted on 02/17/2013 9:05:06 AM PST
by KC_Lion
(Build the America you want to live in at your address, and keep looking up.-Sarah Palin)

Just an observation, yesterday the Parks Hiway from Wasilla heading north and towards Big Lake was nearly bumber to bumper vehicles with sleds on them, and from 18 years living next to the Big Lake turnoff its a freakin nightmare just trying to exit my subdivision to get on the hiway with all the traffic, the highway is only two lanes

But the weather should be good, an outstanding sunny day yesterday when I drove into Wasilla to buy a new PC tablet, posting on FR from my cell phone was getting old, now I have a Samsung Tab 10” tablet.

I do kind maybe sorta might if I got off my backside could possibly get motivated to go see the start, but we get it on our local channel 2 KTUU out of Anchorage. Or folks can check out their website, I think that would be www.ktuu.com

Alaska sounds like a Paradise, my Father visited Alaska Twice when he was in the Marine Corps, he went to Juneau when he served on the U.S.S. Anchorage and went to Anchorage when he was on the U.S.S. Juneau.

Its ok in the summer if its dry, the last couple of years have been pretty rainy and prevented me from riding my motorcycles much.
The winter is too long for most people. But then again the winters are more moderate and we saw record snow last year, had some decent snow day before yesterday, over 4 inches.

Just snapped this pic of happy, healthy, adrenaline-pumped race team #11 (Scott & Todd) in my living room - one final bit of warmth before these former champs hit the trail in the world's longest snowmachine race: 2000 miles across Alaska's unique terrain and amazingly challenging conditions. It's competition at its finest!

21
posted on 02/17/2013 10:10:41 AM PST
by KC_Lion
(Build the America you want to live in at your address, and keep looking up.-Sarah Palin)

We are flying into Anchorage on the 28th (wife from Sacramento, CA, me from King Salmon, AK) and staying at the Millenium Hotel, official Iditarod Race HQ. I have never stayed there, hope it’s nice. The lobby is AWESOME! It’s an older hotel and I’ve heard good and not so good.

Saturday the 2nd is the race start in downtown Anchorage. It was our first time last year and it was a hoot! The running of the reindeer (like running with the bulls only Alaska style) is pretty funny!

Sunday, out to Willow Lake for the re-start. We had some pretty good pictures last year. Hope to add to them this year. It would make my year if Sarah and Todd Palin were there and I got a picture taken with them. Not sure if she goes to Iditarod though. I’m sure she was probably there as governor but as private citizen, not sure.

Then fly back to King Salmon on Monday, wife stays through St. Patty’s Day and then flies home.

26
posted on 02/17/2013 11:11:09 AM PST
by hattend
(Firearms and ammunition...the only growing industries under the Obama regime.)

We had some pretty good pictures last year. Hope to add to them this year. It would make my year if Sarah and Todd Palin were there and I got a picture taken with them. Not sure if she goes to Iditarod though. Im sure she was probably there as governor but as private citizen, not sure.

Have you ever gotten to meet Sarah hattend?

I know it sounds like you haven't but you never know.

The Closest I have gotten to meet Sarah was when my Great Uncle came to Town and we visited the Liberty Memorial (the National World War 1 Museum) and then Sarah comes and visits like 2 days later.

I was crestfallen to say the least.

29
posted on 02/17/2013 12:16:18 PM PST
by KC_Lion
(Build the America you want to live in at your address, and keep looking up.-Sarah Palin)

Youtube will have some video up soon, I noticed many riders are using the Gopro video camera. And most are using Lightforce long range spotlights. Really unique styles of helmets, some with LED spotlights and of course two way comms, GPS very prevalent.

Four strokes are emerging as a contender, I have a 2005 Yamaha RS Rage 4 stroke at nearly 1000cc’s, its a heavy sled compared to the other one I ride an old 1990 Polaris SKS Indy 500 two stroke. The Indy is liquid cooled and slightly faster than the air cooled version.

I get a fair amount of requests to work and customize sleds at my shop, I’ll be installing an additional flatpack fuel tank on another sled tomorrow and adding some cargo carrying equipment to another after doing some suspension mods.

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